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contains ambiguity and leaves itself open to more than one interpretation. The LXX, however,
removes the ambiguity. Cain is conceived διὰ τοῦ θεοῦ - through or by means of God. Scarlata
observes that occurrences of the phrase διὰ τοῦ θεοῦ are relatively rare within the LXX. 154 These
other instances are instructive. 155
In each case the LXX translates διὰ τοῦ θεοῦ, with the implication that divine knowledge
comes ‘by means of God.’ In none of these texts, however, would the nuanced translation
‘with the help of’ be appropriate, since the idea is of reliance upon God for his assistance,
rather than partnership with God. 156
The LXX thus removes any ambiguity that Eve might be considered, or was considering herself,
as comparable to God. Eve’s statement in the LXX acknowledges the truth that human
procreativity is a gift from God. 157 “The use of the preposition διὰ serves as a critical translation
decision, as it demonstrates Eve’s complete dependency on YHWH’s divine agency and conveys
a sense of humility.” 158 4:2 has little or no significant difference in the rendering of the verses
from Hebrew to Greek. Indeed, as Lohr observes, 4:2 demonstrates a determination by the
translators to translate Hebrew idioms as precisely as possible, for example ָֽ ‫וה‬ ‫ת‬ ‫ה־‬ ‫ת‬ ‫־‬ ‫ו‬ ‫תה‬ ‫יֶמא‬ being
rendered as καὶ προσέθηκεν τεκεῖν. 159
154
M. W. Scarlata, Outside of Eden: Cain in the Ancient Versions of Genesis 4:1-16, 32-33.
Genesis 40:8 “οἱ δὲ εἶπαν αὐτῷ Ἐνύπνιον εἴδομεν, καὶ ὁ συγκρίνων οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτό. εἶπεν δὲ αὐτοῖς
Ιωσηφ Οὐχὶ διὰ τοῦ θεοῦ ἡ διασάφησις αὐτῶν ἐστιν; διηγήσασθε οὖν μοι.” Exodus 22:8 “κατὰ πᾶν ῥητὸν ἀδίκημα
περί τε μόσχου καὶ ὑποζυγίου καὶ προβάτου καὶ ἱματίου καὶ πάσης ἀπωλείας τῆς ἐγκαλουμένης, ὅ τι οὖν ἂν ἦ,
ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ ἐλεύσεται ἡ κρίσις ἀμφοτέρων, καὶ ὁ ἁλοὺς διὰ τοῦ θεοῦ ἀποτείσει διπλοῦν τῷ πλησίον.” 1
Samuel 22:10 “καὶ ἠρώτα αὐτῷ διὰ τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ἐπισιτισμὸν ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ καὶ τὴν ῥομφαίαν Γολιαδ τοῦ
ἀλλοφύλου ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ.”
156
M. W. Scarlata, Outside of Eden: Cain in the Ancient Versions of Genesis 4:1-16, 33. (Emphasis in the
original).
157
Susan Ann Brayford, Genesis, Septuagint Commentary Series, (Leiden: Brill, 2007), 249.
158
M. W. Scarlata, Outside of Eden: Cain in the Ancient Versions of Genesis 4:1-16, 33.
159
Joel N. Lohr, “Righteous Abel, wicked Cain: Genesis 4:1-16 in the Masoretic text, the Septuagint, and
the New Testament,” The Catholic Biblical Quarterly 71, no. 3 (2009): 486.
155